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Welcome

I started this blog in 2013 to share my reflections on reading, writing and psychology, along with my journey to become a published novelist.​  I soon graduated to about twenty book reviews a month and a weekly 99-word story. Ten years later, I've transferred my writing / publication updates to my new website but will continue here with occasional reviews and flash fiction pieces, and maybe the odd personal post.

ANNE GOODWIN'S WRITING NEWS

Let those novels dance!

1/12/2015

10 Comments

 
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I was quick off the mark with the latest Carrot Ranch flash fiction challenge. But, although I was pleased with my toilet dance, I thought it didn’t do justice to the versatility of dance in fiction. So, given that Charli has given us an extra week to submit our stories, and impressed with those I’ve read already, I thought I’d give it another go.

If you could learn to dance from fiction, I’d be able to do the jitterbug after reading Clare Morrall’s novel,
After the Bombing. I’m not sure what kind of dancing they did in 1860s Indiana, but the female soldier, Ash, is full of admiration for her husband’s prowess in Laird Hunt’s Neverhome. In my novel, Sugar and Snails, my narrator dressed up in a borrowed tutu and danced without inhibition as a toddler, but sadly never felt as comfortable in her body again. This flash is for her:

What became of the child with arms like wings, with hips that rolled and feet that couldn’t stop tapping? Where was that unselfconscious tot when the teenager stood with arms stiffly folded at the farthest edge of the dance floor? Where was the child when the woman, for want of a partner, turned her back on such frivolity?
I might be grey, respectable, with farther to fall, but I’ll find that child within me. I’ll hop and jump and jiggle my arse, I’ll wiggle and wobble, I’ll prance and pirouette with every cell to music no-one else can hear.


Must be something about me, but my next novel,
Underneath, out in May 2017, features a dancing child too. Of course, I can’t guarantee this will survive the edits, but here’s a taster of how Steve, as a young boy, takes the words of Cliff Richard’s Living Doll a little too literally, with dreadful consequences for the adult he’ll become:

When the twins go to Guides, me and Mummy like to dance to our records. We choose our favourites, holding them between our palms so as not to smudge them, as we stack them up on the spindle. The record player drops them one by one onto the turntable, spins them round at supersonic speed, stretches out its arm and slips the needle in the groove and – abracadabra! – the songs keep on coming till we’re too tired to dance.

Polly and Celia listen to David Cassidy and the Osmonds, but me and Mummy like the old songs best. Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard and the Beatles: songs that have us bouncing round the room. Mummy wears a yellow scarf and a flared pink skirt that balloons out as she twirls to the music. When we do the twist, we dance in our own individual spaces, sticking out our elbows and bending our knees and corkscrewing down to the floor. When we do the jive, we hold hands, stepping away and rushing back, pushing off and pulling in. My hand feels snug in Mummy’s but, sometimes, if I step away when I should be rushing back, my fingers lose hers. But she always catches me in time for when she has to lift her arm and send me spinning underneath, while Daddy smiles at us from the photo on top of the telly. When the last record’s finished we’re exhausted. We fall on to the sofa and laugh.

Today, Living Doll is my favourite. Did Cliff Richard really do that, Mummy? I say. Did he lock up a lady in a trunk so he could have her all to himself?

I don’t think so, says Mummy. It’s just a song. You’re not supposed to take it serious.

But he could though, couldn’t he, if he really wanted to?

No, says Mummy, not even Cliff Richard would get away with that.

Mummy slips the records back inside their paper sleeves. I look at Daddy locked up in his silver frame on top of the telly. What if it wasn’t a trunk? I say.

The lid of the record player squeaks as Mummy brings it down. What are you on about? she says.

I wriggle with the effort of explaining. Would it be all right if he locked her up in something bigger? Like a wardrobe or a cupboard or a garden shed?

Mummy unfastens the knot in her scarf. I don’t know where you get your ideas from.

I wait until her forehead goes smooth again. What if it was a whole room? I say. A whole ginormous underground room.

Mummy says: Let’s get your jamas on. It’s time you were in bed.

Thanks for reading! Do let me know of any novels that dance.

Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
10 Comments
Charli Mills
2/12/2015 08:37:46 am

You can't hear my sharp intake of air, but there...I just let it out. Wow, Anne, your next novel is going to be a doozie! I hope that scene makes the cut! It's awesome -- the excitement of the dancing, the interacting, yet cracks in the boy's obsession with Daddy locked away in a frame and thinking of holding women captive. Great writing. And I loved that you got in a good dance for Sugar & Snails! We all need to find that child within, except maybe your next character!

Reply
Annecdotist
2/12/2015 11:51:27 am

Thanks, Charli, I wasn't sure about including this extract, so glad it speaks to you! If I were to travel back in time to my characters I'd encourage Diana to dance more and Steve less!

Reply
sarah link
2/12/2015 04:32:15 pm

I love the flash and love that you wrote it for (to?) Diana. Must catch up on your other posts but did like Neverhome.

Eek. What's going on with Underneath? I have to check out that post!

Reply
Annecdotist
4/12/2015 03:14:12 pm

Thanks, Sarah, I think now that Diana is out in the world she seems more real. I have also introduced my talks on fictional therapists as recompense to her for denying her one (although, of course, she did deny herself).
Underneath is going to be my next published novel – not till May 2017 so you have time to catch up!

Reply
geoff laptop link
3/12/2015 05:47:49 pm

The idea of Underneath creeps me out even now; and your extract hasn't removed that frisson. Given how fab S&S became from first read to last, I imagine Underneath will, s]as Charli puts it so eloquently, be a 'doozie'

Reply
Annecdotist
4/12/2015 03:15:28 pm

Ah, Geoff, you are so kind – just realised it's an odd old world when it's a compliment to be told your work gives people the creeps!

Reply
Norah Colvin link
6/12/2015 07:17:43 am

Anne, I'm so pleased you did another flash. I really enjoyed this one about Diana, though it is sad too. It is too easy to lose the joyous freedom-from-inhibitions of childhood and lock them away forever. I'm pleased to hear she's getting another chance to jump and jiggle and wiggle and wobble. Maybe I should join in the dance too.
Underneath! Awesome. My head is spinning with predictions of gruesome events occurring in this novel. Very dark, Anne, very dark. I have questions about many aspects raised in this extract. I guess I just have to wait for publication. But it's not even next year yet! :)

Reply
Annecdotist
7/12/2015 03:34:09 pm

Thanks, Norah. I'm interested in your questions about Underneath, but I suppose I'll have to wait till it's published also! I'm happy to hang on as I don't want to raise expectations (even if only in my own imagination) that I could bring out a novel a year!

Reply
Claire King
9/12/2015 09:46:48 am

Oh how interesting, you've chosen a child narrator for your next book. Are you using that voice through the whole novel? How are you finding it?

Reply
Annecdotist
9/12/2015 01:03:20 pm

Funny, but because they're flashbacks, hadn't really thought about them being in a child's voice. Although there are a fair number of them, perhaps a quarter to a third of the narrative. I did worry it might come across as mawkish, but that's not the feedback I've had so far. Quite enjoyed doing it really. Will be great when it comes to doing my blog posts as I'll be able to quote yours from The Night Rainbow ;)

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